1. An epic failure in that I did not quit coffee, I barely followed the rules, I missed that gum(!) was on the avoid list and accidentally ended the week in a feast of cake pops and wine.
OR
2. A really good try.
I am going to go with option number 2, because that is just the barrel of sunshine and pixie dust that I am. Also, I really did give it the old college try. And by "college try" I mean the way that I tried in college…half-assed and full of caffeine...
I think Clean is a fantastic cleanse…that I was not remotely in the mood for. I found it very structured. Structure can be great, but this time I just wasn't feeling it. I kept worrying about when I was supposed to be drinking a smoothie and what if I felt like solid food instead and I felt so guilty about the coffee. Eh, it was just too much brain chatter. I, also, found social obligations to be a bit of a challenge while doing this. If I did this cleanse again, I would make sure that my schedule was free of any upcoming parties or events. Especially, parties where they serve homemade cake pops and yummy red wine.
On the plus side, I found the elimination diet really easy to manage. (Except for the gum. Really?? Gum??) Until the last day, I didn't have gluten, soy, dairy, sugar, eggs, alcohol, corn and (of course) meat all week long!! My digestion was fantastic!! I never felt bloated and didn't really miss those things at all. Also, for what it's worth my friend Julia, who didn't know I was doing a cleanse, saw me 5 days in and remarked that I had lost weight. I wasn't doing it for that reason, but I guess that's good empirical evidence just the same.
All in all, I think that Clean is a terrific resource with a ton of ground breaking information. If you suffer from any of the ailments Dr. Junger mentions, it is definitely worth a look. Just be sure that if you are going to do it full tilt boogie, you are prepared to make room for it in your life. If, however, you are feeling a bit slacker-y like myself, maybe just take a look at the elimination diet and start there. And steer clear of cake pops. They can break even the strongest of wills.
-♥ J :)
**Next up a Natalia Rose Detox for Women overview. For a sneak peek, check out THIS VIDEO.
